We used physics to show what it’s like to take Tesla's newest car for a spin

From 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, Tesla's new Model X has
what they're called a "Ludicrous Mode" that can accelerate you
faster than most
roller coasters. But that's not the most exciting thing about
this car.

We've broken this car down with science to show you what's cool
and what's downright awesome about it.

Tesla Model X vs. Enzo Ferrari

Tesla Motors launched the Model X, the company's first SUV, on
Tuesday. You can now order one for $132,000.

To be fair, the Model X is only the third-fastest accelerating
Tesla vehicle available, but it has accelerations that rival this
Enzo Ferrari (below), which can get you from 0 to 60 mph in 3.14
seconds — just 0.06 seconds faster than the Model X.

Let's use basic physics to see the difference you would
actually feel if you were in a Model X vs. the Farrari
after punching the gas.

For the Ferrari you've got the same calculation except the
acceleration is slightly faster, which gives you a force of about
130.5 pounds.

What this means is that you would feel like someone had placed an
extra 128 lbs on top of you in the Model X and an extra 130.5 lbs
in the Ferrari.

This is a relatively insignificant difference; if you
were blind-folded, you couldn't tell if you were in the Tesla
Model X or the Ferrari. Pretty impressive!

For comparison, astronauts thundering through the atmosphere on
an exploding rocket feel about three
times their body weight, or on average 700 pounds of force,
which makes it difficult to move and even breathe.

Super fast

When it comes to speed, one of the main obstacles working against
you is air resistance. If you've ever ridden a bike against a
strong head wind, you've experienced this.

YouTube/nbkagzw13

Air resistance, also called drag, becomes more of a problem the
faster your speed. But you can counteract drag with shape and
materials that are especially drag resistant. Tesla's Model X is
especially aerodynamic, meaning that Tesla has engineered the
vehicle with a shape that cuts through the air like a hot knife
through butter.

"At 0.24, Model X's drag coefficient is 20% lower than the next
best SUV," Tesla states on their website.

This is important because the faster you go, the greater drag
your vehicle must fight, and the more power you have to spend to
maintain your speed. In fact, the amount of power you need is the
cube of your speed, so if you double your speed, then you have to
use eight times more power to maintain that speed.

For example, if it costs you 20 horsepower to go 50 mph, then it
will take 160 horsepower to go 100 mph.

With its super-sleek design, Tesla's all-electric SUV can reach
max speeds of 155 mph and travel for 250 miles at a time at
highway speeds — longer than the length of the entire state of
Ohio!

Safety first

About
30% of all car accident deaths are from rollovers — when the
vehicle overturns onto its roof. Tall, narrow vehicle, like SUVs,
vans, and trucks have a higher risk of rolling over than cars
because their center of gravity is farther from the ground.

Volvo Car
Group

The center of gravity refers to a single location on any object
that acts as a balancing point, and the closer an object's center
of gravity is to the ground, the less likely it is to rotate, or
in the case of vehicles roll.

Tesla's Model X has the lowest center-of-gravity of any vehicle
in its class, according to
Popular Science, and therefore "the risk of rollover is about
half that of any vehicle in its class," Tesla states on their
website. After government testing is complete, Tesla expects
their Model X to be the safest SUV on the market, Popular Science
reports.